How much does it cost to commute in Washington, D.C.?
In the Washington, D.C. metro area, households spend about 36.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 12.0% of income — about $14,517 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Washington, D.C. range from $3.10 to $9.20, with a median single-trip fare of $5.58 (priced fares in the data cover OMNIRIDE) and 18 priced origin-destination fare pairs in the data. Bike-share is available via Capital Bikeshare, priced at $1.00 to unlock plus $0.15 per minute.
Driving downtown means paying about $18.68 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). The region has 18 priced toll facilities, with rates from $1.67 to $16.00. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is using bike-share at about $8.00 per day.
Cost by mode in Washington, D.C.
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Bike-shareCheapest | $8.00 | Capital Bikeshare: 2 x (unlock $1.00 + 20 min @ $0.15/min) |
| Public transit | $11.16 | 2 x median transit fare ($5.58) |
| Drive (park + toll) | $22.02 | downtown parking $18.68/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($1.67) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| OMNIRIDE | 24 | $5.58 | $3.10–$9.20 |
Bike-share
A typical 20-minute ride costs about $4.00.
Toll roads near Washington, D.C.
18 priced toll facilities, rates from $1.67 to $16.00.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel | CBBT District | $16.00 |
| I-66 Inside Beltway Express Lanes | VDOT / Transurban | $12.00 |
| I-495/I-95 Express Lanes | Transurban | $10.00 |
| JFK Memorial Highway (I-95 NE MD) | Maryland Transportation Authority | $8.00 |
| Thomas J. Hatem Bridge (US 40) | Maryland Transportation Authority | $8.00 |
| ICC / Intercounty Connector (MD 200) | Maryland Transportation Authority | $6.34 |
| Nice/Middleton Bridge (US 301) | Maryland Transportation Authority | $6.00 |
| Dulles Greenway | Dulles Greenway | $5.40 |
Downtown parking
Housing + Transportation affordability
The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for housing + transportation combined. Source: CNT H+T Index (AMI household). Typical household drives 15,496 miles/yr.
The numbers above are metro-wide medians. Enter your real origin and destination to compare drive, transit, park-and-ride, bike, and Uber by actual dollars — gas, tolls, parking, and fares included.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to commute by transit in Washington, D.C.?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Washington, D.C. area is $5.58, ranging from $3.10 to $9.20 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $11.16.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Washington, D.C.?
Taking transit costs about $11.16 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $22.02 per day (parking $18.68 plus tolls from $1.67). Transit is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Washington, D.C.?
Downtown Washington, D.C. parking costs about $18.68 per day, or $298.70 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Washington, D.C. and what do they cost?
The Washington, D.C. region has 18 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT District) at $16.00. Rates across the region run from $1.67 to $16.00.
How much does bike-share cost in Washington, D.C.?
Capital Bikeshare bike-share in Washington, D.C. costs $1.00 to unlock plus $0.15 per minute. A 20-minute ride costs about $4.00.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Washington, D.C.?
In the Washington, D.C. metro, a typical household spends about 36.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 12.0% on transportation alone — roughly $14,517 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.